⭐️ Today’s title is a reference to the title of this book.
I believe we’ve all seen the news and updates about the spike in cholera cases, particularly in Lagos. It’s the first reason I’m sharing this image:
The second reason is the illustration at the top-right corner of the infographic. I wonder about the content of the brief the graphic designer/illustrator received because I can’t help but laugh anytime I see it.
I initially thought it was a bit much, but then I realised that some people require such an explicit visual aid to understand precisely what “watery stool” or “diarrhoea” is, which is fine. I’m all for educating people as needed.
But two other things stand out about it and kill me. So, the man in the illustration appears to be taking a dump in what looks like a landfill. Is it that easy to waltz into a landfill to do your business with the smell, vermin, and what have you? Perhaps a pit latrine or something would’ve been a better option since the illustrator was determined to show the flow of stool from the body. The illustrator probably meant to portray something else, but that was the first thing that came to mind, and I laughed about it.
The other thing is the red cap. This man is depicted going through one of the worst things ever (in my opinion), and the illustrator decided to throw in a red cap for good measure. They could’ve easily gone with a simple head full of hair or a bald head if they couldn’t be arsed to draw hair, but whoever designed this sat and thought to themself that even though the man is clearly in the throes of an infection, he still deserved to maintain some steeze. And once again, I couldn’t help but laugh.
You can read more about how to manage cholera here and here.
Keith Sweat & K-Drama?
Allow me to explain.
I came across this tweet in April and think about this exchange often. It cracks me up every single time.
Do you have any idea how hard the post-delusion clarity must’ve hit for her to tweet this? LMAO. I’m not a romance novel girlie, but I genuinely think you need to indulge in healthy doses of delusion (however you can, depending on your poison), even as an adult.
The only problem, of course, is the post-delusion clarity.
But honestly, that’s also the point. It’s escapism, and it’s cheap. For a few hours, days or weeks, you’re on an orgasmic high, and your mind is filled with endless delicious possibilities.
The tweet reminded me of how good I used to be at dreaming up the most entertaining fantasies fueled by literature and media in my teenage years. But as I said to some friends recently, my head don full, so I haven’t been able to fantasise about anything properly for years, and I’ve missed it.
A few days after I saw the tweet, I began hunting for the perfect romance novel that would give me a great story, likeable characters, and the right amount of delusion. However, I couldn't find one I wanted to read. As I mentioned earlier, romance is not my preferred genre (when it comes to literature), so I have little knowledge of what the industry has churned out recently. I looked for recommendations, but nothing piqued my interest in the way I desired.
To add to this, at the time, I was (and still am) listening to a lot of Keith Sweat (a staple of my childhood), especially this song:
Towards the end of the song, there’s a part that hits the spot for me.
The lyrics:
“Girl, what would it take
What would it take for me to win your love
What would it take, girl
What can I do, there you go tellin' me no, no, no, no again”
It brings to mind the popular romance novel trope where the male protagonist has to “fight” to win the affection of the female protagonist/his love interest. The lyrics aren’t extraordinary (although, with the way Keith sings, you can hear the longing in his voice. I love it so much), but the song intensified my craving for premium romantic delusion.
April and May came with their share of stress, so I was distracted from my craving for a while. Then, towards the end of May, when things started to ease up, I was idly scrolling through Netflix and saw Boys Over Flowers (BOF). If you were in secondary school between 2009 and 2012, you know about BOF. It was popular back then, and I remember my sister bringing the CD home and me teasing her about it. Out of boredom, I watched it with her passively, and I started to get into it after a few episodes and enjoyed it.
When I saw it on Netflix again, I remembered that it had strong elements of romance, which I’d been looking for, and even though I wasn't sure I’d enjoy it as an adult, I decided just to go ahead and watch it. Now, there are a few things wrong with the show but let me tell you — it gave exactly what I needed it to give. It honestly felt like a breath of fresh air. I then thought that surely there’d be more where this came from, and dear reader, there was!
I watched The Inheritors/The Heirs next and was so enthralled by it that I stayed up watching it until 7 a.m. the next day. I couldn’t believe it. I put a story up on Instagram about it because I couldn’t contain my excitement, and I’m glad I did because I found my people.
I had great conversations about the industry, and I learned a few things:
Once you start watching K-drama, you can never go back (peep the song I added to the story, LOL).
Every K-drama fan has a list of recommendations on standby, and they LOVE sharing them with people.
There’s a genre for everyone, so there’s something to fit whatever mood you’re in or whatever you generally prefer.
Watching K-drama has positive effects on your mental health. I can’t explain how or why this happens, but everyone I spoke to shared this sentiment.
K-drama stan culture is WILD.
So that’s how I spent the month of June engrossed in K-drama. I’m working my way through the recommendations I received, and while I was flying through the shows at the beginning, I’m taking my time now because what am I going to do with myself when I’m done? (I'm going to rewatch them, of course, but that’s by the way.)
I am a person who interrogates every feeling (emotion, phase, thought, reaction, etc.) I have. I do this because it’s very important to me that I’m able to control or regulate myself. And to do this, I have to understand the big and small things myself. Since I had such an acute reaction to these shows, I thought about why I enjoy them so much:
Like most Nigerians, the bulk of the foreign media I consume is Western, and right now, there’s very little that’s novel about it to me. As I shared on my Instagram, watching K-drama really feels like stepping into a new world. Their culture is quite different from what I’m familiar with, so there’s much to spark my interest and learn about — their food, language, honorifics, political climate, clothing, etc.
The shows are genuinely entertaining, and the acting is good. Some of it is over-the-top, but I love that about it, too. I’m not sure I’m able to explain it adequately right now, but because I need to look at the screen to pay close attention to the subtitles, I’m more aware of how the actors represent the characters, emotions, etc., which gives me a new level of appreciation for the craft.
I’m sure we’ve all seen and can relate to the online complaints about how dark and broody TV shows & films have become recently. K-dramas (at least the ones I’ve seen) have rich, bright, and visually appealing colours. I love it!
The average episode count for a single season is 15 - 20, each at least an hour long. Because of this, you’re given more than enough to understand and be invested in the story. I want this type of entertainment to make me feel things, so this works for me.
Their budgets seem limitless because every single thing about it gives exactly what it’s supposed to give. Every detail in each scene looks so well thought out. I particularly love the displays of wealth.
The romance dramas give everything I need them to give. I keep saying this because I don’t have the words yet but trust me when I say they just GIVE. They’re sweet, corny, and excessive — exactly what I like to see. This is my preferred genre for now, but I’ll branch out as soon as my craving is fully satisfied.
This isn’t an exhaustive list but I think it’ll do for now.
I’m glad I discovered these shows because they’ve contributed to the rest I’ve gotten this month. I don’t think I’ve rested this well since my post-WAEC holiday. The other thing that’s helped me feel better this month is the weather. It’s finally less humid, and I’m grateful for this. The heat almost drove me insane, and I feel like I can think properly now.
Wishing everyone the best in the second half of the year.
Peace and much love to you,
Ilobekemhen.
Okay that first part was hilarious 😂, the steeze is essential! On my third (maybe fourth) return to the image, I noticed he circled back to the topic of open defecation with "our guy" now in white for some reason (overall colour balance I guess) .. so I guess it justified his choice to illustrate it that way.
The bit on escapism is relatable, I need to find the right ways to do that again (doom scrolling has been a common way for me lately 🥲).
I haven't tried K-drama out yet, but I've heard good things, and I think I'll enjoy them seeing how well I'm drawn to "The Korean Aesthetic". I think it's more versatile than I'm making it sound, but there's this side to it that leans on mild balanced—often pastel—colours, with an elegant touch of minimalism .. but there's also the vibrant traditional side to it that's equally neat (and all of this is informed by the fashion, interior decor, and comic illustration content my IG algorithm has thrown at me, my visit to the Korean Cultural Centre in Abuja, and my love for Sam Kim, Son Hyeeun, and Stella Jang's music).
Can't "promise" I'll try them soon though (I have a list of movies and series that's spilled over to 2027 😭, and the only way I'm clearing them out before 2026 is with a paid vacation 😂).
Anywayyy, I hope you find more time to enjoy your K-drama adventure, and I hope the rest of your year treats you well too✌🏽.